Man dies in Chapman Lake fire

Area volunteer fiefighters work to extinguish a blaze that claimed a life in a house in the 200 block of Rushbrook Road, Scott Township near Chapman Lake Tuesday morning. Michael J. Mullen / Staff Photographer

Area volunteer fiefighters work to extinguish a blaze that claimed a life in a house in the 200 block of Rushbrook Road, Scott Township near Chapman Lake Tuesday morning. Michael J. Mullen / Staff Photographer

SCOTT TWP. - A Scott Twp. man died in a fire Tuesday morning that one firefighter described as a "total inferno."

Alan J. Hoyt, 60, 216 Rushbrook Road, died as a result of smoke inhalation and burns, Lackawanna County Coroner Tim Rowland said.

The manner of death was ruled accidental and the state police fire marshal's unit is investigating the blaze.

The fire was reported at about 5:30 a.m. At 9 a.m., smoke was still rising from the embers and a few walls were all that were standing.

A state police fire marshal was on the scene, and yellow tape had been placed around the home.

Scott Twp. Hose Company First Assistant Chief Matt Pritchyk said crews were met with a "fireball" when they arrived on scene. Flames poured out of every window. There was no chance for any sort of rescue; all they could do was fight the fire as best they could, the assistant chief said. "It was a total inferno," he said.

Firefighters from several area companies battled the blaze. Representatives from the American Red Cross set up a tent to assist firefighters as they worked in below-freezing temperatures.

This is the second fatal fire in less than two weeks in the county.

On Feb. 21, a fire broke out at 18 Collins Ave., Jefferson Twp. Next-door neighbor David Luptak raced to the home and rescued Brenda Bruch and her daughter, 7-year-old Trista, from the home. The girl died at Lehigh Valley Medical Center a day later. No information on Mrs. Bruch's condition was available.

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